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Millions of Brits are Wasting their Holiday Allowance

According to recent research by Direct Line, over four million Brits are not taking their full holiday allowance, either deliberately or because they are unsure of their annual entitlement. Men are marginally guiltier of this than women, at 14% of males compared to 11% of females failing to take all of their hard-earned time off.

When asked why respondents had deliberately failed to take their holiday allowance, 34% said that work was too busy for them to leave, 22% said they only took time off if they planned to go away, and 21% said they didn’t feel the need to have a holiday. Interestingly, a further 21% also said they were really limited as to when they could time off – perhaps due to work or child care commitments.

The full list included;

Work is too busy – 34%

Only take time off if they actually go away – 22%

Don’t feel the need – 21%

Really limited as to when they can take all their holiday entitlement – 21%

Colleagues would suffer if they took all their holiday entitlement – 15%

I love my job and don’t feel the need to take all my entitlement – 11%

Other colleagues take time off when I want to – 10%

My partner/ family/ friends can’t take time off when I can – 9%

I don’t like missing out on work – 8%

It’s more expensive for me to go on holiday – 8%

I am worried that I would be overlooked for a promotion or pay rise – 8%

Medical experts are constantly reaffirming the need for time off, not just from work, but a chance to break away from the stress of everyday life and reconnect with the people and things you love. In the long run this will help to prevent career burn out, and minimise the risks of stress-related medical complications – so make sure you take your full allowance this year!